Feed machine for bags



June 25, 1963 E. w. VREDENBURG FEED MACHINE FOR BAGS Original FiledMarch 8, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25, 1963 E. w. VREDENBURG FEEDMACHINE FOR BAGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 8, 1960 June 25,1953 E. w. VREDENBURG 3,095,056

FEED MACHINE FOR BAGS INVEN TOR.' E12/21C IM V25-MN5 w26 June 25, 1963E. w. VREDENBURG 3,095,056

FEED MACHINE FOR BAGS Original Filed March 8, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June25, 1963 E. w. VREDENBURG 3,095,056

FEED MACHINE FOR BAGS Original Filed March 8, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5United States Patent O 3,095,056 FEED MACHINE FOR BAGS Edric W.Vredenburg, Oakland, Calif., assigner to St. Regis Paper Company, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Mar. 8, 1960,Ser. No. 13,520. Di-

vided and this application July 21, 1961, Ser. No.

1 Claim. (Cl. 177-68) This invention pertains to an improvedycontainer-filling, Iand material-weighing machine which can be utilizedto feed a predetermined amount of a powdered or granular material into acontainer of the type known in the art as a fvalved bag.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 13,520 filedMar. 8, 1960.

The methods of manufacture of various materials result in theirproduction in a highly .aerated state. For example, many insecticidesare produced by grinding and/ or mixing the solid insecticide and aninert carrier in such equipment that the finely divided mixture ishighly aerated. As a result the aerated product will occupy a spacesubstantially larger than that required by its real bulk density. Inpackaging such a material, it has been necessary to work and shake thematerial violently to remove the entrained air. This made the packagingstep slow and costly.

It is in general the object .of this invention to provide a simple andimproved machine for discharging a dry finely divided and highly aeratedmaterial from a bulk supply source through a rotary displacementmechanism which compacts and deaerates the material while discharging itinto a positioned container or bag.

`More particularly, it is the object of the present invention to providea novel rotary displacement mechanism which has certain uniqueadvantages adapted to filling bags with finely divided solid materialswhich are packed and accurately weighed simultaneously and whichincorporates control features for instantaneous shut-off of materialfeed flow when the material delivered into the bag has reached apredetermined weight.

This invention also incorporates a valving mechanism of a new andimproved design which provides for the positive `opening and closing ofa discharge outlet in a very simple yet positive manner.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description wherein the present preferredform of the invention is set forth. It is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to that shown, since the invention as set forthin the claim may be embodied in other forms.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE vl is a side elevational view of the assembled machine.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the machine shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional viewV of the rotary displacementfeed mechanism incorporated in the machine taken along line 3-3 ofFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4 isa vertical transverse cross-section through the displacementmechanism illustrating the component parts in detail as viewed alongline 4-'4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of theflow-control valving means mounted in the delivery spout.

FIGURE v6 is a transverse section taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating the method of controlling theoperation of the rotary displacement mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan View illustrating a modified 3,095,055 PatentedJune 25, 1963 form of rotary feed mechanism shown partially in section.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical broken cross-section through the mechanism ofFIGURE 8 taken on line 9 9.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation partly in section through a modified formof the apparatus, showing another structure employing the novel valve.

Referring particularly to FIGURES l and 2 and by way of a generaldescription, the machine includes a suitable supporting frameworkindicated generally 4at 10, made up of angle iron and other relatedstructural elements and attached to a feed hopper 11. A weighing frame,indicated generally at 12, is supported on the framework 10. The iframeincludes a discharge outlet or nozzle 13, bag support means 14 and scalebeams 15. Rotary displacement mechanism to deliver material from thehopper 11 to the nozzle 13 is indicated at 16. Bag-clamping togglemechanism 17 is provided to clamp a valve-bag on the nozzle 13. Anelectrical circuit control panel box 2i) is mounted toward the rear offrame 10.

The upper portion of framework 10 incorporates a top plate 21 attacheddirectly to the feed hopper 11. The topplate supports the rotarydisplacement mechanism 16, which will be discussed in more detail in asubsequent part of lthis specification. Pairs of depending legs 22 and23 are securely fastened to the upper portion of the framework 10 andcarry horizontal members 24 which provide a lsupport for motor 25. Inaddition, horizontal members 24 have .depending therefrom two angularlydisposed elements 25 and 26 and links 27 for lateral guidance of thebottom portion of the weighing frame 12 and bag support means 14.

The weighing frame 12 includes a vertically disposed front plate 31supported on pivot blocks 32. The plate 31 is .attached to a pair ofspaced rearwardly extending scale beams 33. These are supportedintermediate their ends on pivot supports 34. The scale beams havecounter-balance -weights 35 at one end while an auxiliary vernier weight36 is adjustably mounted on a scale 37 which is in turn carried on oneof the beams 33. Mount ed on the `front of plate 31 are the dischargenozzle 13, ibag-clamping toggle mechanism 17, and a microswitch 18 for apurpose to be described later. A depending member 19 is attached to theplate 31 and is supported by links 27 and arms 25 and 26 as a part ofthe weighing frame 12. A bag support or chair 14 is mounted on member19; the bag support may be readily adjusted vertical-ly so that bags orcontainers of various heights may be accommodated.

The bag clamping mechanism 17 comprises a clamping member 41 pivotallymounted on plate 42 attached to the front plate 31. The clamping memberis adapted to be raised and lowered between a bag-releasing position (asshown in FIGURE l) `and a bag-retaining position by movement of handle`43 and link 44. The handle 43, link 44 and member `41 are so pivotedwith respect to each other that a toggle mechanism is formed. Thusmovement of the handle 43 in an upward direction causes the member 41 torotate downwardly to clamp a valved bag or container against the topsurface of nozzle 13 to retain the bag during filling of the bag.Downward or reverse movement of the handle 43 releases the clampingpressure and permits removal of a filled bag or container. A projection`45 on the clamping member 41 functions to open and close microswitch 18which controls operation of a material flow control valve in thedischarge nozzle 13, which will be explained later.

The material-feeding mechanism 1-6, one embodiment of which isillustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, includes a casing or housing 51 having agenerally U-shaped plate 52, vertical side plates 53 and 54, andmounting flange 55 joined together to form a substantially unitaryreceptacle to receive finely divided aerated material from the hopper11. A rotatable compacter-impeller assembly 56', having a number ofradial generally U-shaped, tapered blades `57, is centrally located on adrive shaft 58. To feed material into the assembly 6 a pair ofoppositely threaded helical flight members or propellers 59 and 66 areprovided on opposite sides of the assemblv 56. Each fiight memberextends `for about 360.

The ends of shaft 58 pass through Ithe side plates 53 and 54 andstuffing boxes 61 to suitable journals 62. A circular wear-ring 63having upwardly extending flanges 63a `is replaceably fastened withinthe casing to prevent damage to the U-shaped section 52 of housing 51which would otherwise be caused by the centrifugal erosive force andconsequent abrasion from the material being impelled therethrough. Adeector element 63b may be provided above rinlg 63 if required tofacilitate the flow of certain materials into the assembly 56. FormedL-shaped guide elements 64 and 65 are situ-ated at the bottom of housing51 and in conjunction with wear-ring 63 constitute a channel 66 whichopens into tube 67 to provide an outlet passage for the material beinghandled.

When the machine is in operation, a pulley on motor 25 drives assembly56 by a belt 68A passed over pulley 69 on drive shaft 58. A flexibleconnection 68 of rubber or the like connects Vtube 67 to the inner endof discharge outlet 13, as will be seen. Because of this design, thematerial handled is positively :driven from the upper portion ofreceptacle 51 into the channel 66, through tube 67 and out the deliveryspout 13 into the positioned bag or container.

Material fed from the hopper 11 into receptacle 51 is driven byoppositely threaded flights 59 and 60 into the assembly 56. Because ofthe U-shape and taper of the blades 57, the material is forced outwardlyby centrifugal force. At the same time, the taper of the blades forcesthe material into a more compact state, thus deaerating the looseparticles into a more densified mass until finally it is driven into theoutlet passage as a comparatively air free mass, to be advantageouslypacked into a positioned bag. A a result, material discharged into thebalg i-s so air free that the filling operation is complete when thedesired weight of material is in the bag. Thus the bag-fllling operationis simplified and the speed of filling greatly increased. It should benoted that the blades are of a larger area at their inner ends, taperingtoward their tips. This relationship serves to effect compaction anddeaeration of the material.

FIGURES 5 and 6l depict in det-ail the discharge outlet or nozzleassembly 13 which comprises a valve housing 71 having an outwardlyflaring rearward section terminating in a mounting flange 72 which isbolted to the front plate 31 of the Weighin'g frame. An intermediatedisc member 73, affixed as by wel-ding to a tubular section 74,cooperates with housing 71 to form an air-tight chamber 75. Disc 73 alsoycarries a tting 76 to provide for attachment of a flexible air hose topermit operation of the flow-control valve. An inner sleeve 77 preciselyfits the interior bore of housing 71 and is provided with an annulargroove 78. The enlarged end 79 of a flexible tubular valve element 80 isextended over the outer end of sleeve 77 and is held by groove 78against the housing. The opposite or inner end of valve element 80 istightly fitted on tube 74. A number of longitudinal grooves 81 areprovided in sleeve 77 to allow the passage of air from chamber 75 to anannular groove S2 cut into the inner surface of sleeve "77 at itsforward end. Thus, when fluid pressure is applied through fitting 76,the valve element 80 will be inflated and so moved into the positionindicated by the broken lines. In this position, the valve elementeffectively seals off passage of material through the discharge outlet.The valve element is moved in separate areas away from the sleeve 77,each separate area abutting each. other area to provide a tight seal.Con- 4 versely, when the pressure in chamber 75 is released andpreferably is reduced below atmospheric, the valve is immediately flexedto -a full-open position as shown in solid lines, whereby there is noimpedance to the flow of material.

The operation of the machine and addition-a1 details of its constructionwill become apparent from a consideration of the following furtherdescription. With a bag placed with its valve over the discharge nozzle13 and the bottom portion of the bag set into the bag ychair 14, thebag-clamping mechanism 17 is operated to secure the bag in position.Microswitch 18 is operated by the movement of clamping member 41 andprojection 45 thereon. The operation of the microswitch 18 openssolenoid valve S5 to the atmosphere permitting air to flow from pressureline 86 through regulating valve 87 and aspirator or ejector 88. Thiscreates a vacuum or suction in flexible air hose 89, causing the valveelement to deflate to a full or completely open position to allow freeflow of material from the rotary displacement mechanism 16 through thedischarge nozzle and into the bag. The motor 25 is normally controlledby a starter bu-tton 90 mounted on the supporting framework 10 so theoperator is able to clamp the brag in receiv- Aing position on the spoutand to open the discharge valve prior to initiating action of thedisplacement mechanism. However, if desired, simultaneous operation ofboth the valve and the motor can be controlled by microswitch 18 or,conversely, the closing of valve 80 and stopping of motor 25 can becontrolled through the action of a microswitch 91 (FIGURE 1). Thisswitch is mounted on the fixed frame in a position to be engaged by thescale beam.

A modified form of material-feeding mechanism is shown in FIGURES 8 Aand9. In this embodiment, a substantially unitary receptacle 131 isfabricated, as by welding, of -a cylindrical outer casing 132, a bottomplate 133 and an upper mounting flange 134. A horizontally disposedrotatable `centrifugal assembly 135, has a number of generally U-shaped,tapered blades 136 extending radially. The assembly is centrally locatedin the lower interior of receptacle 131 and is mounted near the upperend of a vertical drive shaft 137. The shaft passes down through a holein bottom pl-ate 133 and stuffing box 138 to a pair of journal boxes 139and 140 which are afixed to a supporting structure indicated generallyat 142. A replaceable wear-ring mem-ber 143 having an outer diameterequal to the inner diameter of casing 132 is positioned at the bottom ofreceptacle 131 surrounding the centrifugal assembly to prevent damage tothe casing 132 by the erosive action of the centrifugally drivenmaterial. A cone-shaped deector 144 is mounted on the top extremity ofdrive shaft 137 to facilitate the flow of material downwardly into thecompacter assembly. An outlet tube 145 is provided for the discharge ofmaterial out of receptacle 131 through flexible connection 68 and oninto the discharge spout 13, not shown in this View.

The support structure 142 consists of an upper annular plate 146 yand atransversely positioned beam comprising twochannel members 147 held inspaced parallel relatlonship by a pair of vertically disposed arcuateplate members 148 to provide a rigid support for journal boxes 139 and140 land drive shaft 137. Thus, the upper plate 146 may be fastened tobottom plate 133 of receptacle 131 and a suitable pulley (not shown)mounted on the lower end of vertical drive shaft 137 to provide forpowered rotation of the centrifugal assembly 135.

The blades 136 are shaped with an overhang portion 136a at the top ofthe U-shaped section. This serves to scoop out or undermine the finelydivided aerated material fed by gravity from the hopper, forcing ordriving it into the narrower outer end of each blade, with consequentcompression and deaeration of the material. This compacting anddeaeration is effected by the radially tapered U-shape of each blade;the material is forced by centrifugal acceleration toward the narrowersection at the outer end of the blade. Thus the material impelledthrough outlet tube 145 through the discharge nozzle 13 to the bag is acomparatively dense mass and is readily packed in a balg.

When the bag has been sufficiently filled with the desired quantity ofmaterial, the weight of the bag and its contents will tilt the scalebeams sufficiently to operate microswitch 91 mounted on fnamework 10(see FIG- URE 1). This will break the flow of current to the motordriving the displacement mechanism 16, thus stopping the positive flowof material to the nozzle. rI'he clamping member is then moved to thereleased position, thus ihactivating the solenoid and closing valve 85and immediately directing air pressure through flexible tube 89' toinflate and close Valve means 80 and so prevent any further flow ofmaterial, whereupon the filled bag may be removed from the machine.

'Ihe circuit employed to controlthe operation .of the rotarycompacter-impeller assembly is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 7.The system includes a three-phase power source, push-button controlswitch 90, scale beam cut-off microswitch 91, pneumatic timer 92,magnetic reversing starter 93 and the compacter-impeller driving motor25.

After a bag has been clamped in position on the delivery spout 13, valve80 is Iautomatically flexed to full open position and the machine isthen ready for operation. 'Ilhe operator then presses starter button 90and ya control circuit is temporarily completed from power line 95through normally closed microswitch 91, push button 90 and normallyclosed contacter 104 to -coil 110 in the magnetic starter to solenoidcoil 111 in the pneumatic timer and back through overload circuitbreaker 112 to a neutral power line 96. Current flow through coil 110opens contactor 98 and closes contactor 99 to .complete .a holdingcircuit for coils 110 and 111 through normally closed contactor 104.Energization of coil 110 also closes contactors 101, 102 and 103 tocomplete the power circuit through connections 113, 114 and 115 to motorleads 116, 117 and 118 to supply forward or positive cur-rent to motor25 for driving the compacterimpellei assembly with a resultant flow ofmaterial to the positioned bag through the filler nozzle.

When the weight of the bag and its contents reaches a predeterminedamount, tilting of the scale beam operates microswitch 91 to open thepreviously mentioned holding cincuit from line 95 through contactors 99and 104, thus deenergizing coil 110 and returning contactor 98 to itsnormally closed position and opening contactors 99, 101, 102 and 103.Solenoid coil 111 in the pneumatic timer is deenergized simultaneouslystarting the delayed timing action even though the timer contacts remaintemporarily closed, [allowing current to flow from power line 95 throughthe timer contacts and contacter 98 to energize coil 119 in the magneticstarter, opening contactor 104 and closing contactors 106, 107 and 108to connect power lines 95, 96 and 97, through Eby-pass connections 121,122 and 123 to motor leads 118, 117 and 116 respectively. This suppliesoppositely .phased current to the motor with the resultant reversedmagneti-c field serving to effectively brake the motor to .a prompthalt, thus stopping the rotation of the compacter-impeller assembly.'I'he pneumatic timer is pre-set to hold for the required interval oftime necessary to properly stop the motors rotation.

When the timer contacts are disengaged the circuit passing throughcontactor 98 is broken, causing deenergization of coil 119, openingcontactors 106, 107 and 108 and the entire magnetic reversing starter isdeenergized to :await a subsequent operation.

In FIGURE l have shown Ia modified form of apparatus in which thematerial from hopper 151 passes through conduit 152 into .a feedermechanism generally indicated at 153 and including a nozzle 154 on whicha valved-bag is mounted for filling. The hopper 151 and the conduit 152:are anranged to feed material into the feeder 153. The conduit isplaced at an acute angle to the horizontal with the result that materialfrom the hopper 151 slides down the conduit 152 into the feeder 153 andthe weight of a long column of material is not placed on the feeder.

Hopper -151 includes a foraminous wall 155, one side of which issupplied with air from chamber 156. The lair passing through theforaminous wall assists the material in sliding quickly out of thehopper 151 and through the conduit 152.

The bottom of the hopper includes a flange 157 to which is joined theflange 158 on the upper end of the conduit 152, the two flanges beingsecured together by studs 159. Secured to the flange 158 is a casing 161in which is mounted a ring structure generally indicated at 162 andwhich includes -a central portion 163 fitting the casing 161 snugly. Thering 162 has a flange 164 at each end thereof. screw 166. Mounted on thering with its opposite ends fitting back over each of the flanges 164and secured by clamps 167 is a tubular flexible member 168. The flexibleelement is spaced slightly from the interior of the ring, a plurality ofgrooves 171 facilitating the distribution of air from air supply pipe172 between the ring .and the flexible member. In one position, theflexible member is concentric with the interior of the ring. Upon.application of fluid pressure, the flexible member is moved to a secondposition, being forced inwardly upon itself whereby the several portionsof the flexible member engage one another to provide a closure.

The bottom `of the tubular member 161 is joined `as by a flexible canvaselement 173 to an annular member 174 joined to the top of the feedercasing 176.

To move material .into a bag a short screw conveyor flight 181 ismounted upon shaft 182, the latter bein-g supported in the jour-nal 183mounted on an end of the casing 176. 'Ihe screw extends forwardly intothe nozzle 154 serving to move material into a bag positioned on the endof the nozzle and to which it is secured as by the clamping mechanism:gener-ally indicated at 177.

`Operation of the screw flight feeder 181 and opening and closing of thevalve are controlled off the scale -beam in a well known manner.Usually, the valve is closed first and the motor operating the screwflight feeder is permitted a few revolutions to exhaust the material inthe feeder 153.

Since the m-aterial is sliding from the hopper through the conduit 152into the feeder 153 rather than falling down vertically, controlling theflow of material with the valve is an easy matter as compared withhaving to cut off the movement of .a solidly packed column. Hence, thefeeding at an acute angle provides a speci-al advantage.

From the foregoing it will .be apparent that I have devised anddeveloped a novel, simple and improved method of handling, weighing andpackaging granular material, which combines compacting, de-aerating andimpelling operations together with positive control of material flowduring delivery through a clamp-controlled valve located in an outletnozzle to a pre-positioned valved bag.

I claim:

A ydevice for filling a bag with finely divided particulate solidscomprising:

(a) a stationary frame;

('b) a storage hopper for said particulate solids fixed to said frame;

(c) a weighing scale supported by said fname;

(d) a nozzle supported by said weighing scale;

(e) means for supporting the bottomI of a bag positioned below the saidnozzle, said means being supported -by said weighing scale;

(f) means in communication with said hopper for receiving particulatesolids therefrom and for advancing said solids to said nozzle;

The ring is secured in place by the (g) a flexible conduit between saidlast mentioned means and said nozzle whereby said nozzle may moverelative to the said last mentioned means; `and (h) means positionedimmediate-ly adjacent the discharge orifice yof said nozzle for closingsaid nozzle, said means comprising a tubular elastomeric memberpositioned with one end thereof Xed to the inner surface of said nozzleimmediately adjacent the discharge orifice thereof, the other end ofsaid tubular elastomeric member being in communication with the interiorof the said conduit of subparagraph g and Ibeing Aconnected to theopposite end of `said nozzle, said elastomeric tubular member being oflesser diameter than the said nozzle and being concentric with a portionthereof whereby to provide an unsupported section intermediate the endsthereof and la space between the nozzle and the said elastomeric member,said nozzle having means for applying a fluid pressure within the saidspace to cause vsaid elastomeric tubular member to move `between a irstposition in which said unsupported section is substantially concentricwith said nozzle vand a second position in which the said unsupportedsection is collapsed upon itself suiciently to prevent passage ofparticulate matter therethrough, said means -for applying the uidpressure being opera- 8 tively associated with said weighing scalewhereby to cause the said elastomeric tubular member to be collapsedupon itself through the application of fluid pressure when apredetermined weight of particulate material has :been supplied by themeans of subparagraph f;

(i) and an aspirator connected by a fluid line to the said space andadapted to remove fluid from the said space to create a pressure lowerthan said fluid pressure prevailing in the said space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS980,906 Bates Jan. 10, 1911 2,112,290 Holland Mar. 29, 1938 2,364,211Gustafson Dec. 5, 1944 2,633,154 Eastman Mar. 31, 1953 2,756,959 yHillJuly 31, 1956 2,769,397 Bolger Nov. 6, 1956 2,904,063 Wall et al. Sept.15, 1959 2,922,612 Bulls et al. Jan. 26, 1960 2,972,464 Jones etal. Feb.21, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 273,368 Germany Apr. 28, 1914

